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Sri Lanka’s main children’s hospital running out of orthopaedic supplies
The orthopaedic ward of the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital is in urgent need of critical surgical supplies. These are essential to make it less painful for children either recovering from broken bones or after surgeries to correct deformities.
Anyone who has had the misfortune of having had a limb in a plaster of paris cast will know what it feels like when it starts itching. Doctors use good quality stockinette to minimise that unbearable itch. But, unfortunately, the hospital is rapidly running out of these supplies and surgeons are cutting corners and trying to stretch the limited stocks, according to orthopaedic surgeons.
Soft rolls that are used between the skin and the cast are also in very short supply. Any donations of stockinette and soft rolls could ease the pain for a lot of small children at this hospital.
Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Dimuthu Tennakoon and his team hope that donors will assist the hospital procure these supplies, which are available in the local market but are unaffordable for patients.Very soon, the hospital will also run out of crucial Nancy nails, plates and screws to fix splintered bones. Orthopaedic surgeons will be helpless when they are out of these vital devices to treat trauma patients as well as those needing surgery to correct birth deformities.
“After we run of the stocks, we will not be able to undertake surgeries,” one of the doctors at the LRH said. “We can’t put off these surgeries in growing kids. This is going to be a big tragedy.”
These are the often-unseen calamities awaiting young patients at the premier children’s hospital in the country due to the current cash crunch faced by the government.Donors could either directly make purchases from suppliers and arrange for deliveries to the LRH or source from elsewhere and hand over directly to the doctors at the orthopaedic ward. This appeal is specifically to help the young patients in the orthopaedic ward of the hospital. Donors can also help the hospital through its website: https://lrh.health.gov.lk/donate/ .
Hospital contact person medical officer in charge of planning, Dr. Savithri Dharmarathna, on mobile number 071 444 1705 (when calling from abroad+94 71 444 1705). If any donor requires logistical support to arrange transport etc of the supplies they procure for the hospital, they may contact Shantha on + 070 116 2706.
List of urgent supplies needed at LRH children’s hospital
The following surgical supplies are urgently required at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children.Instruments, consumables and dressings NEW OT LRH
Cannulated System 7.3mm – 1
Acculan 4 Battery Operated Drill with all Attachments – 2
Pneumatic Tourniquet A.T.S 4000 with accessory basket – 2
Tourniquet cuff 8″ – 4
12″ – 4
18″ – 4
24″ – 4
30″ – 4
34″ – 4
42″ – 4
Tenotomy Knives (Disposable) – 50
Cast Padding (3M or Benecare)
2″ – 100
3″ – 100
4″ – 100
Stockinette
2″ – 2 rolls
3″ – 2 rolls
4″ – 2 rolls
6″ – 2 rolls
Synthetic Cast
5cm – 50
7.5cm – 50
POP (Gypsona or 3M)
5cm – 50
7.5cm – 100
Sutures
2/0 Round body vicryl 30mm – 100
2/0 Round body vicryl 26mm – 100
4/0 cutting Monocryl 3/8 circle 26mm – 100
4/0 cutting prolene (optilene) 20mm – 25
1 Round body vicryl 22mm ½ circle – 100
Ethibond polyester 25mm or 16mm ½ circle – 100
Others
Patient Warmer – 1
Skin Marker Pens – 20
Instruments, consumables and dressings NEW OT
LRH
3M Ioban surgical adhesive Drape size: 12″ – 25
Instrument box with dull tray – 2
HMTS Reel for Plasma Sterilization
75mm – 1 roll
150mm – 1 roll
300mm – 1 roll
Sterilization Reel
75mm – 1 roll
150mm – 1 roll
Hip Plates
3.5mm locking proximal femur plate 3 holes 110 degree – 10
3.5mm locking proximal femur plate 3 holes 120 degree – 10
3.5mm locking proximal femur plate 3 holes 130 degree – 10
3.5mm locking proximal femur plate 3 holes 140 degree – 10
3.5mm locking proximal femur plate 3 holes 150 degree – 5
5mm locking proximal femur plate 3 holes 110 degree – 10
5mm locking proximal femur plate 3 holes 120 degree – 10
5mm locking proximal femur plate 3 holes 130 degree – 10
5mm locking proximal femur plate 3 holes 140 degree – 10
5mm locking proximal femur plate 3 holes 150 degree – 5
Titanium Elastic Nails
TENS 4mm – 50
TENS 3.5mm – 50
TENS 3.0mm – 50
TENS 2.5mm – 20
TENS 2.0mm – 20
TENS 1.5mm – 20
Instruments, consumables and dressings NEW OT
LRH
General Instruments – Amount
Galley pots – 5
Pop scissors – 2
Fiber scissor – 1
Cast spreader – 1
MC Donald dissector – 2
Scoop Large – 2
Skin Hooks – 4
Metal Mallot – 1
Hohmann Retractor small – 4
Periosteal Elevator AO for small fragment set – 1
Periosteal elevator AO for large fragment set – 1
Travers Retractor Curved
Medium – 2
Large – 2
Killner double Ended Retractor (Cat’s paw) – 2
Langenback Retractor
Small – 2
Medium -2
Large -2
Mosquitoes fine curved – 3
Baby Mosquitoes Fine Curved – 3
Wire Bender – 1
Flat Nose Plier Medium – 2
Bone nibbler Ronger type Medium – 2
Orthopedic Metal ruler
30mm – 1
15mm – 1
Right Angle Dissector
Large – 1
Medium – 1
B.P Handle No 3 short – 5
Tendon Hook – 1
Finger Control Sucker Medium – 3
K. Wires
1.5mm – 100
1.8mm – 50
2mm (Threaded) – 25
2mm (Non-Threaded) – 100
Crego Retractor -2
Kidney Tray Medium – 5
Orthopaedic Instruments – 1
Adolescent lateral femoral Nail Instrument set – 1
8- plate system with implants for 50 patients – 1
Fassier-Duval telescopic IM Nail system – 1
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
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